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Beacon of Information - the 2005 NJASL Annual Conference!
The New Jersey Association of School Libraries (formerly the Educational Media Association of New Jersey) will be holding its 27th annual conference on October 27 - 29, 2005. This year's theme is "SMLS: Beacon of Information @ Your School Library." The conference will be held at the Cherry Hill Hilton in Cherry Hill, NJ. Keynote speakers include Debbie Abilock, Jerry Pinkney, Wayne Free, and Penny Colman. Also included will be the excellent array of workshop sessions, author presentations and book signings, vendor booths, and a variety of special events.
Conference registration forms, conference programs, and other conference forms are available at the NJASL website. (http://www.emanj.org/Conferences.htm)
NOTE TO BCSMA MEMBERS AND FRIENDS: Don't forget our annual "BCSMA Informal Meeting" at the NJASL Conference. It's a great opportunity to relax and recap the NJASL Conference experience with your colleagues. Check the MEETINGS /ACTIVITIES page for more information.
Submitted by John Bishop - 9/21/2005
Q and A NJ : Research Assistance - Live!
At the September meeting of the BCSMA (held at the Burlington County Library), we were honored to be the recipients of a wonderful demonstration of the new web-based interactive research assistance service, Q and A NJ! Impressive!! What is it? In an educational release letter from Marianne Sweet, Q and A NJ Project Coordinator, Q and A NJ :
"...provides free, live interactive search assistance via the web. We are staffed by librarians from more than 20 participating libraries statewide. Q and A NJ enhances traditional library reference services by reaching outside the walls of the library, bringing service directly to our customers. In short, we're New Jersey's first and only statewide Virtual Reference Service."
Reaching outside the walls is right! Motivated by the demonstration, I decided to try the service for myself...to get a feel for the process as if I was a student (I guess I never stopped being a student, really). I pointed my browser to www.QandANJ.org...connected to the service...provided some non-invasive info about myself...posed my question...and started the session. From there, it was me and my very own research assistant...mining the web. The chat window that filled the right third of my computer screen displayed the text of our conversation. The left two-thirds of the screen displayed the web resources that my assistant retrieved and sent for my inspection and evaluation. On it went...give and take...as we zero-ed in on the information I sought. Steve of Cumberland County Library, my research assistant, was understanding and supportive...and the web resources he provided were useful and authoritative. I ended the session with a thank you...and in no time received an e-mail message containing a complete transcript of the session (the text of our interaction and the URL's of the web resources explored). Fantastic!
I'm impressed by the possiblilities...and the power...available to students and teachers. The possibilities...of having a living, breathing person at the other end of the Internet...providing direct, interactive assistance. The power...of having a professional, knowledgeable person by their side...directing them to the information they need. If they can't be computer-side with you at your own library, this is the next best place for your patrons to be.
I highly recommend Q and A NJ...and will actively promote the service to our students and staff. For more information or to try the service yourself, visit http://www.QandANJ.org.
*Note: Q and A NJ is administered by the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and is supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the New Jersey State Library.
Submitted by John Bishop (Moorestown High School) - 11/27/2001
The BCSMA Is Now An Approved Professional Development Provider!
You've heard about it...read about it...debated about it in the faculty room...and may be concerned about it. Those dreaded Professional Development Hours...100 seems like a big number! But the BCSMA can ease your weary mind! Attending our meetings is even more profitable...as you earn while you learn. As an approved Professional Development Provider, the BCSMA can help you put some valuable hours in your professional development pocket. We'll see you at our next meeting. 'Til then, why not peruse the PDP confirmation we received: Provider ID: 972 John BishopPosted 9/11/2000
Job Openings | Listings at NJASL | top of page |
SCHOOL DISTRICTS - POST YOUR JOB OPENINGS HERE!
Contact John Bishop with your job opening information...and BCSMA will post it here...at no cost! Help yourself...and help a librarian/media specialist find the job of their dreams!
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